Lining is the most common lumber for cladding walls and ceilings in a bathhouse. It is affordable. Any man who can hold a hammer can handle its installation.
The bathhouse is lined with clapboard made of deciduous and coniferous wood:
- pine (spruce),
- larch,
- cedar,
- aspen,
- Linden,
- alder.
Edged boards are made from wood through careful selection at a sawmill. Then dry until the moisture content of the board is no more than 12%. The dried board goes to a milling machine, where it is processed with cutters on 4 sides. After sorting by class, it is packed. This is how the lining ends up on the shelves of construction stores.
Choosing a lining for a “Russian” sauna
Criteria for choosing material for a steam room:
- Resistance: to steam, moisture.
- Does not allow heat to pass through.
- Doesn't heat up.
- Safety.
- Durability.
- Nice smell.
Aspen
- Aspen is durable. When dry, the elasticity is not inferior to oak or poplar.
- Does not rot. In Rus', aspen was used for the construction of well log houses.
- The color of the wood is light, almost white. It darkens over time.
- Aspen has a bitter aroma.
- The price of aspen lining is affordable.
Linden
- Linden wood is light.
- Does not warp, does not crack.
- Does not heat up at high temperatures. Linden is the main material for a steam room (it holds heat for a long time and does not burn).
- Ancestors used linden in wood carving. They created cooper's products, furniture, and musical instruments.
- The healing properties of linden have been known for a long time. Linden steam is good for the respiratory tract. Fights many ailments.
- The color of the wood is light, with a milky or pinkish tint.
- The smell is honey.
Birch
Has good acoustic properties. The wood is easy to process and paint.
Birch is good for musical instruments, but not for baths.
Alder
Light and soft alder wood does not rot during prolonged contact with water. In air it takes on a reddish tint. Suitable material for covering a steam room. It is really expensive, and finding good quality alder paneling is not easy.
Larch
Wood has a unique property: with prolonged contact with water it becomes stronger and harder.
Rule! When building a wooden bathhouse, the lower crowns should be made of larch.
Cedar
Cedar is not only very beautiful, but is also as strong as steel. Shows resistance to rot formation. Has an antimicrobial effect. The cost of cedar lining is very high.
They say that the pleasant cedar aroma disappears from the steam room after just a couple of months.
Pine and spruce
- The released resin burns and is not washed off with water.
- The loose structure of wood is not strong.
Pine is suitable for washing rooms and rooms where the air temperature is low.
In the shower
If all the rooms are covered with wood, it is logical to do the same in the washing room. Panels made of coniferous wood should be used because of their resistance to moisture. Pine and spruce, additionally protected with water-repellent compounds, will extend the service life of the coating. Natural oils, wax, water-based paint are among these products.
Before applying oils, the surface is sanded and cleaned of dust. Then the oil will penetrate deep into the wood. It is necessary to apply several layers, usually up to three, to maximize the isolation of the material from moisture.
More expensive wax works more effectively. It is applied manually with a soft cloth. The resulting barrier does not allow water to pass through, but is not a barrier to oxygen. Wax can highlight the natural beauty of wood.
If you use paint for moisture insulation, you will have to repeat this procedure periodically, about once a year. Paint is suitable only on a natural basis, applied with a brush, in several layers, after cleaning the surface. Fantasy can turn a shower into a masterpiece, or you can limit yourself to even, calm tones.
It is imperative to protect wood to prevent its premature rotting.
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Lining profile
All lining profiles are equipped with ventilation grooves and tongue-and-groove fastenings.
Standard. The profile cut is similar to a trapezoid with angles of 30 degrees. The wall, covered with classic clapboard, has recesses at the joints.
Calm. The corners of the profile parts are rounded, which makes the wall look neater.
Europrofile. Its distinctive feature is that the tenon width is at least 5 mm, so the tenon-groove connection is more reliable. A clear pattern is formed on the surface covered with this lining.
Eurolining. It is distinguished by the presence of wide ventilation grooves. They are designed to remove collected moisture. Eurolining is not afraid of temperature changes and humidity. The high cost is justified by European quality. A suitable choice for a steam room.
When purchasing eurolining, pay attention to the following indicators:
- thickness - at least 125 mm.
- width - 88 mm.
- spike length - 8 mm.
What determines the grade of the lining?
There are classes of lining: “A”, “B”, “C”, “E”. They correspond to grades: 1, 2, 3, 0.
When determining the class of lining, specialists pay attention to:
- Number of knots.
- Presence of cracks.
- Fungal infection.
- Are there wormholes?
Pro tip! To finish the steam room, use linden lining of the “extra” class.
For cladding a washing room, lining made from aspen or linden of class “A” is suitable.
Remember that over time the aspen will darken and the appearance of the lining will no longer be so attractive. You can change the situation! Coat the surface with an antiseptic in advance. This measure will also save the wood from disease.
The locker room and dressing room are lined with lining made from grade “B” linden to hide uneven walls and ceilings. Coating with varnish or paint will extend the life of the lining in the bathhouse.
The use of any coverings in the steam room is prohibited! Since they release harmful substances when heated.
Advantages
Aspen wood has low thermal conductivity and almost does not crack; it lends itself well to various processing techniques, even bending. It can be easily polished and painted. The material is relatively light, attractive white, with fine fibers. Ease of processing is also associated with a minimal number of knots. If processed correctly, objects become strong and resist rotting very well.
The condition of patients with rheumatism, bronchial and pulmonary inflammation, even dysentery improves
It is important to remember that this cannot in any case replace full-fledged treatment, and any measures of this kind must be agreed with doctors
Linden or aspen lining, which is better?
We compared bathhouse materials according to the following indicators:
- grade,
- profile,
- price,
- dependence of properties on the type of wood.
Based on this, we can conclude:
- The best lining for a sauna (bath) made of linden.
- The best facing material for a steam room is linden lining.
Conclusion.
Whatever kind of sauna lining you buy, remember! Before installing, leave it unpacked for a couple of days. A tree is a living organism and must adapt to the microclimate of the bathhouse.
Almost every Russian person is characterized by a love for the bathhouse. After all, a bathhouse is a place not only for cleansing the body of dirt and renewing the skin, but also for mentally cleansing the head. However, few people know what is better to choose for lining the steam room - linden, alder or aspen?
Installation
The casing of a sauna or bathhouse involves installing the lining using two fastening methods: vertically or horizontally. Horizontal fastening is carried out by laying lamellas, which are located parallel to the floor, and vertically - perpendicular. The horizontal method is more often used in practice, when installation is carried out with a tenon located at the top, and the groove of the next rail is put on the tenon of the previous one. This method is advantageous in that in case of persistent contamination, replacing panels is much easier than with vertical installation. As a rule, the horizontal method is used in Russian baths, where the steam is wet. The vertical method is suitable for Finnish saunas with dry steam.
Fastening is carried out:
- through connection with self-tapping screws or nails;
- hidden on screws or nails;
- on clamps (hidden).
The hidden fastening option is preferable, as it eliminates burns when touched during the steam room.
Features of materials
To finish the bath, you need to use materials that will meet the following criteria: - must provide ventilation; — high thermal insulation rates; - flat and smooth surface; — low thermal conductivity; — ease of use and installation; - resistance to high temperatures; - resistance to high humidity.
It is worth noting that exclusively natural materials are used to decorate the bathhouse. The fact is that all synthetic materials have the ability to quickly heat up to temperatures above 60 degrees. Thus, while in the steam room, you can get burned. Therefore, to prevent this situation from happening, they use wood for finishing. If your bathhouse is made of logs, then finishing work is not necessary. However, the aesthetic component plays a significant role here. Log walls do not look beautiful, because the logs are not processed. Therefore, in this case, the ideal option would be to use a thin cladding board.
Material selection
The choice of wood type for cladding must be approached responsibly. Most often the following hardwoods are used for this purpose: linden, alder, aspen, oak. Here it is worth considering the fact that the trees presented tend to darken over time.
Let's consider the features and advantages of the presented deciduous trees.
Linden is one of the leaders in steam room cladding among other species and trees. When exposed to temperature, it smells pleasant, does not contain a large amount of resin, and is not capable of darkening. Due to the fact that linden has almost ideal quality characteristics, its price is much higher.
Aspen is practically no different in its characteristics from linden, but is much more expensive. This is due to the fact that aspen undergoes more complex technical processing during the production process.
Finishing a bathhouse from alder is also a profitable option. This material is easy to work with. Due to the fact that it contains little resin, it can be used for finishing the ceiling without any problems.
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Gallery
The choice of material for lining a bathhouse, on the one hand, is simple, since there are only 2 types of wood, but on the other hand, it is too complicated, because you need to choose price and quality, knowing the differences between species such as linden and aspen.
Linden is a more expensive material, since the plant is rare and valuable due to a number of other qualities, and not only in terms of wood products. But the advantage of linden is not only in the healing properties of its flowers, but in the characteristics of the wood.
Linden is one of the most moisture-resistant tree species; it does not rot, does not become moldy, and is capable of self-cleaning. At the same time, the steam room, lined with linden clapboard, is heat-resistant, does not warp or crack under the influence of high temperatures. Linden has a special pleasant smell and has a pleasant light cream color when cut, so that the walls of the bathhouse remain fresh and look neat for a long time.
But when choosing lining for a bathhouse, you should also consider aspen wood, since, compared to linden, it is more dense and resistant to mechanical damage. Aspen wood is moisture resistant and does not rot when placed in rooms with high humidity and temperature. As the temperature rises, the smell of wood intensifies, but is not unpleasant, but rather gives a certain aroma to the Russian steam room. Aspen lining is much cheaper than linden.
Woodworkers with many years of experience advise choosing aspen wood due to a number of conditions: aspen is cheaper, stronger as a material than linden, but linden is more pleasant, its wood has practically no resin and knots, it does not have a pronounced wood texture and its decorative properties are much higher than those of linden.
The choice of material for the construction and lining of the bath should be based on the goals set. The first criterion, of course, is the price, what kind of wood you can afford. By comparing prices and calculating the dimensions of the future bathhouse and steam room, you can understand how much lining made from these types of wood costs, and make a choice accordingly. The second, as a rule, is that bathhouses do for the soul and for themselves, for guests, then the bathhouse should be pleasant and serve as a place for conversations, and sometimes feasts. The third case is saunas and bathhouses for public use, these are business services, where the price and quality of services are what determine the choice; the lining must be durable and strong.
Choosing lining for a bathhouse is an important finishing stage that requires a competent approach. To help you, I will tell you about six types of lining that are suitable for these purposes.
Reviews
Larch bathhouse
Boris Nevelov, 42 years old, Novosibirsk
I hesitated for a long time between linden and aspen, but in the end I made the traditional choice: linden. It costs more, but for a steam room, I think, you won’t find a better one. The wood is warm, silky, and does not heat up. And the smell in the steam room will make you pumped.
Nikolay Morozov, 35 years old, Omsk
There used to be a bathhouse on the site - made of pine. The inside of the steam room was lined with linden. But something went wrong: it began to rot. And in the bathhouse there was always mold or something else. They dismantled and built a new one - from aspen. It has been standing for more than 6 years, nothing rots, there is no trace of fungus. But, of course, it took me a long time to choose a tree. I went to the base three times to take away the barrels.
Alexander Fedorov, 52 years old, Ufa
A bathhouse was started on the site as soon as the house began to be built. I chose aspen: the price is lower than cedar, and it is not afraid of water, if it is good. Banya is already 15 years old. The color, of course, is not the same, it has become gray, but the tree is like stone. During all this time there was never mold in either the steam room or the dressing room.
Tags: bathhouse, linden, alder, good
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Wood species
The main factor in choosing lining for a bathhouse is the type of wood.
The fact is that wood must meet two basic requirements:
- resin content
should be minimal, since high temperatures lead to its release, which can cause burns; - resistance to moisture
- the durability of the finish depends on this quality.
Option 1: linden
We can safely say that the best inexpensive lining for a bathhouse is linden. Linden has been used in Russian steam rooms for centuries.
Advantages:
- Low thermal conductivity
. It does not overheat, so it never burns, but at the same time it heats up quite quickly. Thanks to this quality, linden is an excellent choice for baths and saunas, which are heated to high temperatures; - Nice smell
. Thanks to the presence of essential resins, it fills the space with a special aroma;
- Attractive view.
It has a pleasant, uniform light yellow color; - Healing properties.
Has a beneficial effect on human health, in particular, calms the nervous system; - Low cost.
Due to the availability of wood and ease of processing.
Flaws:
- Linden has one serious disadvantage - it is susceptible to rotting. Therefore, when choosing this material, keep in mind that you will soon need to replace the interior trim;
- There is also the possibility of damage to the finish by insect pests.
There are special antiseptic impregnations on sale intended for treating steam room finishing, such as EUROTEX-SAUNA or Supi Saunasoja (Tikkurila), which are environmentally friendly. They will significantly increase the durability of the lining. The only thing, keep in mind that the instructions for use prohibit the use of compounds for treating steam room shelves and other parts with which you will come into contact.
Price.
Depends on the variety:
Option 2: aspen
Aspen also makes good lining for a bathhouse or sauna. Therefore, it is used for these purposes as often as linden.
Advantages:
- Hardness.
Aspen is harder than linden; - Resistance to changes in humidity
. Thanks to this, the lining does not dry out or crack; - Nice smell.
Aspen also contains essential oils in its structure, although to a much lesser extent than linden. In addition, the smell is slightly bitter, which not everyone likes; - Low cost
.
Flaws:
- Aspen lining, although to a lesser extent than linden, is still susceptible to rotting;
- Another disadvantage is that it must be selected carefully. If there are knots or resin pockets on the surface, burns upon contact with the surface of the lining cannot be avoided.
Price.
The price is similar to the cost of linden lining.
Option 3: alder
An excellent finishing material for a bathhouse is alder lining, which is also popularly called “royal wood.” It can be easily distinguished from other breeds by its characteristic pink hue and beautiful small pattern.
Advantages:
- Low thermal conductivity.
Thanks to this, the possibility of getting a burn when coming into contact with the finish is eliminated; - Low hygroscopicity.
Wood does not absorb moisture much, which increases its durability; - Antibacterial properties.
Thanks to them, alder is resistant to rotting and fungus formation. As a result, lining made from alder is more durable than linden; - Healing properties
. It has a beneficial effect on health, and also has a pleasant “cognac” aroma.
Thus, alder lining is a durable material that meets all the requirements that I mentioned above.
Flaws:
The main disadvantage of alder is its high price. Also, keep in mind that alder is a fairly soft material, just like linden.
Therefore, it is difficult to secure heavy objects on the surface of the lining. But it is easy to process with your own hands.
Price.
The price is one and a half times more than the materials described above:
Option 4: cedar
If you are interested in which lining is best for a sauna without regard to its cost, we can recommend cedar material.
Advantages:
- It is not at all afraid of dampness, so the cedar finish is very durable;
- the wood has a pronounced pine aroma;
- It has bactericidal properties and also has a healing effect on the body. In particular, it has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system;
- The content of oleoresin in the structure of cedar is significantly less than that of pine or, for example, spruce. Thanks to this, the finish will not burn;
- has a beautiful natural pattern and golden hue, making it look attractive and noble;
- has high strength.
Flaws:
The disadvantage is the high cost compared to linden and aspen. Moreover, for lining the steam room, you should use only high-grade forcing that does not contain knots and resinous pockets. Otherwise, the material will release hot resin.
It is better to avoid using cedar lining with knots - they can emit hot resin
Price.
Cedar lining costs slightly less than alder, but is still quite expensive:
Option 5: abash
Recently, it has become fashionable to use exotic wood species that have some unique qualities for finishing baths. In particular, it is increasingly possible to find cladding made from tropical wood such as abash, which has a porous structure.
Advantages:
- Low thermal conductivity. Due to its high porosity, abasha lining practically does not heat up;
- Beautiful appearance. The material has a pleasant chocolate color.
True, the natural color of abasha is lemon yellow or even white. However, in order to improve the material, the lining is subjected to heat treatment;
The combination of white and dark abasha lining is an interesting design technique
- High strength. Despite the low density, abash is a fairly durable material, as a result of which the lining tolerates shock and other mechanical loads well;
- Resistance to deformation.
The finishing material not only does not deform, but also does not shrink.
Option 6: hemlock
Another exotic tree that has become widespread is hemlock. This breed is an evergreen and grows along the Pacific coast, as well as in the mountains of Alaska and Canada.
Advantages:
- High resistance to moisture.
Thanks to this, the material can last for tens or even hundreds of years; - Antibacterial properties.
As a result of this quality, the wood is not susceptible to biological influences. This also increases the durability of the finish; - High strength.
The material is resistant to shock and many other mechanical influences;
- Does not release resin. This prevents getting burned;
- Has healing properties.
Hemlock resin and essential oils are used in medicine. Therefore, using it in a steam room will improve your health; - Nice smell.
Hemlock is even used in perfumery, so you will be guaranteed a pleasant aroma in the bathhouse.
Extra grade lining has an ideal surface - you will not find knots or cracks on it
Usage
Is it possible to build an entire log house from linden? Why not? Nowadays everything is possible. But let’s take a separate look at what it would look like to log a bathhouse made of linden and the option of only finishing the bathhouse with linden in the form of a lining.
Log house
A small bathhouse, practically consisting of (perhaps even combined) a steam room and a washing room plus a tiny dressing room, can be built entirely from linden. Because in this case there will be no need to sheathe the inside of the steam room.
However, such an undertaking will require certain investments in protecting the bathhouse from the outside. The fact is that using linden for construction is not a very good idea - it is of little use as a wall material, since precipitation will quickly lead to the proliferation of fungi on it, which causes rotting.
To prevent this from happening, the outside of the log house will have to be thoroughly and often treated with antiseptics (those antiseptics that are sold for self-coating have an extremely shallow penetration depth - 2-3 mm), or impregnated (industrially impregnated wood) is needed, but this is not a fact. that you will find such a linden tree, and what’s the point - they will process the log there from all sides, but why do you need such happiness in the steam room?
Therefore, independent processing of the outside of the log house is a suitable option, although it will require periodic updating. Treatment inside is also needed - everywhere except the steam room can also be treated with an antiseptic, and inside the steam room - with oil or oil wax.
ADVICE! The linden log house will have to be protected as a “UNESCO heritage”, so it is more practical to build it from pine, and decorate the steam room with linden clapboard.
Finishing
Wood finishing usually means lining walls and ceilings with clapboard. This is a common practice, and it is used not only in bathhouses made of brick or concrete, or in frame ones - the frame and timber are covered with clapboard. But this is done in two cases:
- when it turned out that the thickness of the log was chosen incorrectly and in winter the bathhouse needs additional insulation;
- when the walls of a steam room are made of coniferous wood and need to be insulated from heat so that the resin does not leak out (or at least does not fall on those steaming).
The lining can be sewn onto both “bare” walls (of course, through lathing and with film insulation), and on walls with insulation.
Often foil is stuffed under the lining as a heat-reflecting and vapor barrier layer. But this only makes sense in a steam room.
CONCLUSION! So, it is beneficial to use linden lining only in a steam room - it does not emit resin, it smells nice, it is light, and the price is reasonable. In other rooms, the decoration can be made of anything.
Boards
Linden shelf, Extra grade
Linden boards for baths can be purchased in several versions:
- regular edged and unedged;
- profiled = lining;
- planken for regiments.
Conventional cladding can be used (and in this capacity, unedged is used in a bathhouse even more than edged), as well as lining.
Planken is mainly used for sheathing shelves.
The dimensions of the boards can be standard or have the dimensions and profiles that a particular manufacturer prefers.
You can read about finishing with unedged boards here.
The sizes and types of shelf boards are described here.
A comparison of linden and aspen lining is given in this article.
Types of lining
As I said above, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account not only the type of wood, but also the type of lining. This parameter indicates the quality of the material (external defects).
On sale you can find the following types of lining:
- Extra (highest grade)
. This lining is of the highest quality. The expression “without a hitch” is exactly about her. You will not find chips or other visible defects on the surface of the material. It must be said that in order to reduce the cost, extra-grade lining is most often made by splicing. However, for a steam bath it is better to use solid boards that do not contain glue.
Sometimes class A lining is not inferior in quality to extra class as a result of confusion in regulatory documents
Defects such as wormholes, rot and blue discoloration, as well as falling knots are unacceptable. It must be said that due to some confusion in regulatory documents, for some manufacturers the first grade corresponds to the highest grade. This point should be clarified when purchasing material;
- Class B (grade 2)
. Material of this grade may have a significantly higher number of defects.
In particular, the presence of:
- small chips;
- blue (no more than 10%);
- rot (no more than 10%);
- resin pockets;
- wormholes (no more than three per linear meter);
- sheet cracks (not through and without exit to the end);
- black and falling knots (diameter should not exceed 20 mm).
The thickness of the sauna lining should not be less than 12.5-12 mm. Otherwise, it will begin to warp. Moreover, difficulties may arise even at the installation stage.
It must be said that there is also Class C lining, i.e. third grade, however, it is not suitable for finishing a bathhouse, so we will not consider it.
For a steam room, it is best to use extra class lining. For other rooms in the bathhouse, the first or even the second grade of material is suitable.
Kinds
Lining comes in different designs and is divided both by external characteristics and by its qualities. These properties are influenced by its wood component, as well as the type of processing. Depending on these two characteristics, it is divided into classes “Extra”, “A”, “B” and “C”. Let's pay a little attention to each of them.
The thickness of plates of this class is usually only 12.5 mm. The surface is smooth to the touch and has no deformations. This type is perfect for both complete finishing and partial decoration of a certain area of the room.
The joining surface of the grooves of this class of lining may also be in an ugly state, which will greatly complicate the process and affect the quality of its assembly. However, the size of the defect should not exceed a fifth of the linear meter.
Having understood the types of material, let’s move on to familiarizing ourselves with the types of wood from which it is produced.
Linden
An excellent material, characterized by its increased wear resistance and durability. Its excellent resistance to water will not allow microcracks to form on the surface and will protect against deformation during the drying process. High thermal conductivity qualities will also play a favorable role in the steam room, allowing you to quickly and evenly distribute heat throughout the room and reduce the time it takes to cool down.
Pine
When using coniferous wood for finishing baths, some caution should be exercised, keeping in mind the internal characteristics of such wood. The fact is that pine has a high resin content, which is not distinguished by the release of beneficial essential oils
Rather, on the contrary, the composition of its resin is toxic when released in excess. Therefore, lining made from this type of wood is not recommended for use in steamy rooms where high temperatures are present. However, it is quite suitable for dressing rooms and floor decoration, where low temperature conditions prevail.
Aspen
Aspen lining has its advantages. In terms of safety, this material should be given a leading role. The fact is that such wood has the lowest thermal conductivity, and therefore the risk of getting a burn injury is minimized. In matters of durability and wear resistance, aspen lining is not much inferior to linden wood.
Alder
Alder is superior in value to the above-mentioned samples, and there is a reasonable explanation for this. Its properties make it even better to use. Its perfectly smooth surface has no defects, and therefore there is no need for additional grinding and polishing after installation work.
Cedar
The beneficial qualities of cedar wood have been known since ancient times. Due to its healing qualities, this type of lining is gaining increasing popularity. Antibacterial components, as well as the pleasant aroma of cedar essential oils, help repel various insects.
The noble pink hue, which becomes richer over time, is very pleasing to the eye. With prolonged use it can achieve a beautiful ruby hue.
Oak
Oak wood is the most exquisite and rare of the above, and therefore deserves special attention. Lining made from such material looks truly impressive. In terms of its texture, oak has a very beautiful pattern and a light gray color of a unique shade. Thanks to the highest strength and density, products made from Canadian oak are the most durable.
Other breeds
Fir, larch and juniper can also be used as material for lining. To create shelves in a steam room, experts recommend laminated birch. Differences in species play a role, affecting the durability of wood and boards made from it. The difference is in the aesthetics of the material. You can choose the most suitable option for your home.
Based on the structure and processing of the lining, the following types are distinguished:
- standard;
- blockhouse;
- softline;
- landhouse;
- American.
The so-called eurolining has gained enormous popularity. It is easy and quick to work with, it has more convenient grooves for connection, a special ventilation duct and large-scale dimensions - both in width and in length.
Conclusion
As you can see, all types of lining have their own advantages and disadvantages, so there is no ideal option. I recommend watching the video in this article. If the choice turned out to be too difficult a task, write a comment and I will be happy to help you.
In a good sauna, you may like a steam room only for its appearance and fragrant, dry steam. If the depth of heating of the room is provided by the stove, then the smell and interior decoration will be provided by correctly selected wood and correctly selected lining for the bathhouse. The term “lining,” which is unusual for the average person, hides ordinary wooden sawn material made from certain types of wood, cut into a standard size and having a tongue and groove at the ends for assembly and decorative finishing of the finished surface.
Alder
The lining, which is made of alder, is preferred by authoritarian lovers of relaxation in the bathhouse. The material will cost more than the previous ones, but it is considered to be of higher quality. Here the surface is perfectly smooth and there are no defects. Therefore, after installation there is no need for additional processing using a grinding machine.
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This wood is used for steam rooms, which are located in elite, expensive establishments. It is popular because it has healing properties and looks very beautiful. Cedar panels are made, processed and installed quite simply; no special approach is required.
Why decorate a bathhouse and steam room with clapboard
Bathhouse lining has become an unrecognized standard. The dressing room, locker room and washing department of the bathhouse can be designed and decorated differently, depending on the means and desires of the owner of the establishment. Options range from finishing the bathhouse with expensive wood to ordinary tiles or plastic tiles. But not a steam room; in this case, only a sauna lining is suitable.
The material for a sauna or steam bath must have the following properties:
- Do not lose their qualities from moisture, steam, high temperature, detergents and antiseptic substances;
- Have a beautiful surface texture that is resistant to water and mechanical stress;
- Good to keep warm;
- Do not release any unpleasant odors or substances.
For your information! The best option has always been unmodified wood of good quality, without plugs, knots or defects in the texture of the fibers.
Almost all wooden panels made from lining absorb heat well, but under the influence of dry hot air they do not heat up to the point of causing burns. In addition, touching a wooden surface is always perceived by a person with greater comfort than, for example, touching tiles or plastic.
Like any material, different woods have their own advantages and disadvantages, making one or another type of wood more or less suitable for making sauna lining.
What functions should the finishing perform?
When choosing interior decoration for a bathhouse, you need to take into account several important points. The first question is whether additional finishing is needed in principle. If the bathhouse is built from large diameter logs, you can leave everything unchanged.
For buildings made of other materials, you will need clapboard or board. It will help create a special bath flavor inside the premises and provide high-quality insulation. Plus, the lining has different profiles and can be mounted vertically and horizontally, in the form of masonry or herringbone.
You can also use a block house or imitation log, and even an unedged board, which will give the interior of the bathhouse a special zest and unique natural flavor. To make the right choice, you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements for interior decoration in a bathhouse.
In addition to decorative ones, wall cladding has practical functions. It accumulates and retains heat, which allows you to spend a minimum amount of energy resources.
At the same time, the surface of the skin remains pleasant to the touch and does not burn.
To effectively perform its functions, the cladding material must have the following characteristics:
Be non-flammable. To give this quality to natural wood, it is treated with special compounds.
Absorb and retain heat without getting hot.
Have high moisture resistance and dry quickly.
Have a natural and environmentally friendly composition, do not emit harmful substances and unpleasant odors.
Lining for baths and saunas
First of all, it is worth noting that it is not necessary to decorate the entire bathhouse with expensive cedar or linden. The steam room and dressing room would be best made from different types of wood. In the first, linden works well; in the second, you can use larch or even cheaper aspen.
When choosing wooden cladding for a sauna or steam bath, the material is assessed according to the following qualities. Wood should be the most durable and comfortable in tactile sensation. The surface does not warp and does not absorb various types of stains and marks from water or a broom. The profile of the material provides a beautiful monotonous relief without compromising the strength of the finish.
For a waiting room, the cladding requirements are simpler than for a sauna. Due to more or less tolerable temperature and humidity, lining made from good quality softwood can be used for finishing auxiliary rooms. If funds allow, for such options use a board with the most beautiful fiber texture.
Protective measures
It's better to work with gloves
Procedure for antiseptic treatment:
- the wood must be dry and clean;
- The first places to be processed are the cuts, cuts, and ends;
- processing is carried out in a ventilated room at a temperature not lower than +5;
- The air humidity in the room should be at least 70%.
The antiseptic is applied with a roller, brush or spray (take care of personal protective equipment in advance).
The second stage of work consists of directly applying protective coatings: varnishes, gels, azure. For rooms with high temperatures, choose oil-based products. The oil will be absorbed into the wood, and the protective layer will remain on top, taking care of it imperceptibly.
Wax or water-based varnishes are suitable for the dressing room and washing area. They contain products that have water-repellent, bactericidal and protective properties. It is difficult to give general recommendations here - it all depends on the chosen product. You should be given an initial consultation in the specialized store where the product is purchased, and then proceed strictly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
When using the bathhouse, regularly keep the room clean, ventilate and dry the rooms. Cleaning should be done after each visit. Combine general cleaning with a thorough “technical” inspection. All damage should be treated immediately with protective agents.
You have read the general rules, let’s move on directly to the products.
Choosing wood for cladding
If you make a list of the most popular types of wood for a bathhouse, you will get something like the following:
- Birch lining is the worst suited for a steam room or sauna; the tree is desperately afraid of hot steam and is highly susceptible to rotting;
- Pine and Christmas tree;
- Oak, cedar or ash are very beautiful in the decoration of bathhouse recreation rooms. Both have excellent textures and good staying power;
- Linden and alder are the best lining options for a bathhouse.
Pine, Christmas tree, birch for a bath
If anyone wants to cover a bathhouse with birch, you should be aware of the poor resistance of its wood to moisture. You will have to try hard to increase the ventilation of the bathhouse and use preservatives to preserve the wood from decomposition. The huge pores of birch fibers cannot be protected even with the help of varnishes or deep penetration impregnations.
Coniferous lining is much more resistant; due to the high concentration of tar-like substances, resins, and oleoresins characteristic of coniferous wood, their use as bath lining is limited. Even thermal and chemical surface treatment to remove resinous substances gives only a temporary effect. Moreover, in hot steam, pine or spruce can change the tone or even color of the surface. The ability of coniferous lining to accept color well and to be freed from surface layers of gum resins and turpentines is often used by various kinds of schemers. After treating with an alcohol-acetone mixture, the sauna lining can be easily painted and even painted to look like ash or alder. True, after 2-3 weeks of exposure to dry, hot air, such lining will quickly lose color and acquire a gray tint.
Sometimes pine or spruce lining is simply steamed several times with dry steam; resins and resin are expelled from the surface of the wood, which is simply removed by mechanical scraping and grinding. For quite a long time, this process frees the steam room of the bathhouse from the smell of tar and tar, but after a couple of months it will definitely appear again.
Oak, cedar, ash, aspen for steam room
Oak lining is very durable and resistant to any influence of water and steam; in a bathhouse, such lining will last in a steam room for many years, but oak does not have any outstanding decorative properties, in addition, such lining has a high price and is difficult to work with.
Cedar and ash lining is perfect for both the steam room and the entire bathhouse. Cedar and ash have a beautiful pattern; in ash, this is especially evident when the surface is dry, varnish-free polished. The price of such lining is comparable to the price of expensive finishing types of wood, therefore it is used to a limited extent for cladding saunas and baths.
Aspen can hardly be called a high-quality material for cladding. Even when used correctly, aspen lining is often darker, but does not rot like birch. If you decide to consult with sellers of ready-made material for cladding a bathhouse, be prepared to listen to many different tales about the miraculous properties of aspen and aspen stakes.
Alder, linden, larch
Lining made of linden and alder for a bathhouse is valued above all. In addition to their excellent durability and light or even white color, you can add an indescribable aroma that appears every time the wood is heated with hot air. They have soft and pliable wood, so such lining can be easily cut and sawed.
Separately, it is worth mentioning another type of wood - larch. A lining made from this wood will last as long as oak and alder combined. Larch has a high resin content, which provides good resistance to rotting, swelling or cracking when exposed to high temperatures. The disadvantages of larch include the specific dark red color of the wood, which, unlike white linden or light coffee alder, makes the enclosed steam room dark. The smell of heated larch also takes some getting used to; most people like the slightly tart aroma of larch.
Larch wood is heavier than that of light linden, it holds heat less well and, most importantly, its wood is unusually hard. One poorly screwed screw can cause the entire board to crack.
The better
Let us clarify that treatment, in our understanding, is a preventive measure to prevent the future appearance of rot, mold, blue stains, infestation with wood-boring beetles and similar misfortunes. Or medicinal if infection has occurred. There are also compositions to reduce the flammability of wood.
In the first two cases we are talking about antiseptics - substances that kill fungi (fungicides) and insects (insecticides). In the third case - about fire retardants, which slow down fire or make wood non-flammable.
Is it necessary to treat the lining in a bathhouse with these compounds? Optional. They are good for preventing infections, they will keep the sauna from burning out completely, but they have restrictions on their use in the steam room
It is also possible to pay attention to impregnated wood
What to use in the steam room
While we're talking about this, there are a couple of products that can be used in a steam room too. However, their effectiveness is very limited.
For example, if you treat the paneling in the steam room of a bathhouse with “Belizna” bleach or its analogues, you can quickly get rid of the blue stain - this is the name of the fungal infection of wood, with which wood is often sold, since it does not affect the strength, it only spoils the appearance of the lumber.
Fungal infection - blue
BY THE WAY! Why Whiteness? Because there are a number of different antiseptics for wood, which contain nothing but sodium hypochlorite, as in “Belizna”. Well, maybe the concentration is different and the price is different.
After use and achievement of the result, “Whiteness” is washed off and ventilated (!more about ventilation in the bathhouse in a separate material). You can use the bathhouse when you can no longer smell the smell.
As a close analogue of bleach, you can use hydrogen peroxide - also a strong oxidizing agent that does not allow fungi to live.
For mold, you can use boric acid or borax, but now boron compounds are considered toxic, and among the cumulative poisons, that is, those that accumulate and are not eliminated from the body. The only good thing is that the poison is weak, it takes a lot of it to get poisoned.
But it’s not worth living with mold either; you die from it faster than from boron. If it starts up, then it’s no longer a matter of whether it’s a steam room or not, we have to start fighting. Until you get rid of it, you can’t use the bathhouse.
However, this applies to all infections - the more serious they are, the more serious the remedies. It’s better to treat the lining in a bathhouse with a professional antiseptic that will combat your problem, and then wash everything, than to change the entire lining. But it’s better to change the entire paneling than to risk your life because of black mold. With wood-boring beetles, the same strategy - while it makes sense to fight - we fight, if there are too many of them - we burn the affected tree.
Treatment inside other bath rooms
In this case, there is only one difference from the steam room: in other rooms you can use prophylactic agents. That is, do not wait for a problem, but prevent its occurrence by poisoning the lives of pests in advance.
Since there is no steam room heat in other rooms, all these poisons will not evaporate and be inhaled by humans.
Therefore, you can safely use antiseptics and fire retardants, whichever you like. In the washroom you will want to use non-washable compounds, but look at the label: if it says that it is for the exterior and not the interior, then it is better not to. It's better to update from time to time.
IMPORTANT! Antiseptics can be found on sale not only in the form of separate formulations, but also in the form of primers, which precede the application of varnish, glaze or paint. If you are going to paint with something, choose the right primer and you will not need to separately use an antiseptic.
Choosing the type of lining for a bath
For high-quality cladding of a steam room or sauna, in addition to the type of wood, you will also need a grade of lining and a type of tongue-and-groove profile.
Wood grade
On the market you can be offered sauna lining of four grade levels. The best quality is in the “Extra” category. In theory, such a lining should have an ideal surface, without any hint of traces of defects, plugs, knots or areas of fungal infection. Next comes the lining of grade “A” - with traces of possible defects, “B” and “C” - with defects, and in the latter case we can cite products as an example; in grade “C” there are slightly fewer defects than the wood itself.
The lining is packaged and sold in a special wrapper with a stamp indicating that it belongs to a certain grade. But you shouldn’t blindly trust what they write on the wrapper; you should always check it, especially since there is a difference in price, and quite a big one.
Lining profile
There are offers on the market of several basic lining profiles. These are Europrofile, Softline profile and Shtil profile. Among the most popular are the Euro version and the ordinary pin-groove connection. The first cladding option looks very beautiful and presentable, even when cladding residential premises. The latter provides a tight and durable connection of the decor into one shield, without any special pretensions to exquisite execution. This profile can be used to decorate both the roof and the bathhouse; special beauty is not expected from such a profile.
Before making the final choice of the lining profile, look at what a wall looks like, completely covered with one or another profile. Often an attractive specimen in an array does not look so impressive.
Varieties
Initially, the external appearance of the lining was only flat, but recently other forms of cladding have begun to appear. From the old version, only the method of joining the panels has been preserved, similar to the principle of joining a floorboard. Now this design is also used in the manufacture of plastic panels. The most common lining options have characteristic names.
- Block house. The panels have a profile that visually creates an imitation of a wall made of logs. All other characteristics remained the same as those of conventional lining.
- Panel. The principle is the same as that of a block house, but the imitation is created not of a log, but of construction timber.
- American. The lining of this lining is wedge-shaped, giving the impression that the panels are overlapped. In this case, docking is carried out in the usual way.
- Calm. This variety looks like a simple processed board. It looks like a continuous homogeneous surface without joints. Although they are present.
